Excellence in Elocution
There were smiles all around at the recent Irish Board of Speech & Drama awards ceremony as students were presented with certificates for grade examinations in Verse Speaking and Communication Skills. Students and parents alike were delighted with the high marks achieved, where Distinctions and First Class Honours were the order of the day. Sorcha O’Brien from Clonmel was awarded the gold medal for her outstanding performance.

The participants, parents and instructor Nancy Farrell, gathered at the Tirry Community Centre last weekend where the pupils were photographed with their certificates. Nancy is a member of the Institute of Drama and Communication Teachers (IDAC) and is a graduate of the Leinster School of Music & Drama, Dublin, specialising in Elocution. She teaches locally and also in the broader South Tipperary region. Nancy was recently asked to coach local entrepreneur, Valerie Sheehy, for RTE’s Dragons’ Den, where Valerie was successful in securing investment from two Dragons, for her business www.myponcho.ie

Irish Board of Speech and Drama exams provide an opportunity to develop self-confidence and self-esteem in a safe and friendly environment; a professional evaluation of progress; and a certification of achievement. All ages and abilities are catered for, and exams, although encouraged, are not compulsory. For further information, you can visit the Irish Board website www.irishboard.ie or contact Nancy on 086 3432526.

More success for Fethard Country Market members
Following his recent win in the Bord Bia sponsored All-Ireland Potato Championship held at Templemore Show, David Curran from Fethard Country Market, won fifteen first prizes in the Potato and Vegetable Classes at the Iverk Show on Saturday, August 24. Bernie Meaney, another member of Fethard Country Market, won the ‘Great Cherry Cake’ competition from forty-five entries repeating her success of 2012.

Congratulations to both David and Bernie on their success which only highlights more the top quality produce available at Fethard Country Market every Friday morning at the Town Hall.

Free Dementia Clinic
Daltons Pharmacy will hold a free Dementia Clinic at their premises on Barrack Street, Fethard, on Wednesday, September 4. In attendance will be Geraldine Hoyne who is a registered general and psychiatric nurse and will be available to meet for 30-minute clinical session. For further details call in to store.

Terminal Two play for IWA on Friday night
Popular Limerick band ‘Terminal Two’ will play in Lonergan’s Bar on this Friday night. August 30, and will donate their fee to the Tipperary Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association. The band was due to play at the recent ‘Music Extravaganza’ but due to unforeseen circumstances had to reschedule and offered to do this gig instead. So if you want to hear one of the most popular talented bands around, drop in to Lonergan’s this Friday night.

Old Fashioned Field Day in Cloneen
Cloneen Sports and Social Club are holding a good old-fashioned field day this coming weekend as part of their mountain madness weekend. Saturday night, August 31, will see the coronation of the ‘King or Queen of Slievenamon’ and music begins at 10pm with ‘Mind at Risk’, a wonderful band. Entry an door is only €5 and we would love to see you there supporting us.

On Sunday, September 1, at 2.30pm the field day will include the usual games: tug-o-war, archery and games for all the family. We will also have our very own dog show with classes for all including the Heinz Variety dog. Other classes are: best large dog, best small dog. best tail wager, most alert, veteran, best trick/obedience, fancy dress, best of show etc. So please come along and bring your dog for a day out.

We’ll have bouncy castles for every age as well as stalls with books novelties etc. Entry to Field Day is €5 for adults, students €2 and children go free.

Patrician Presentation Secondary School
New Principal
The school community welcomes newly appointed Principal Mr Michael O’Sullivan and wishes him many happy years in the Fethard area. Mr O’Sullivan is a native of the Beara Peninsula and previously taught in St. Augustine’s in Dungarvan.

Parents’ Meeting
Mr O’Sullivan is holding a meeting for the parents of all the pupils in the school on Wednesday, September 4, from 7.30pm sharp to 8.30pm sharp. This meeting will be an information meeting and at least one representative of each pupil is requested to attend. Mr O’Sullivan believes in the importance of strong cooperation and communication between Parents/Guardians and the school. The mutual goals of both the school and parents should be to ensure that the pupils are given every opportunity to reach their potential not only in school but into their adult lives.

Leaving Cert Results 2013
Congratulations to the Leaving Certs of 2013 on their solid performances in their Leaving Cert Exams. The majority of our students were happy with their results and many of them are now either preparing to head to UCC and other Third Level Institutions or preparing to take up an apprenticeship in the area. We congratulate them on reaching their potential and wish them well on their chosen paths in life.

Welcome to First Years
As the school year begins, we extend a warm welcome to all our First Year pupils and to foreign students: Fabian Hoffmann and Koln Rosmarinweg, both from Germany. Welcome also to new staff member, Ms Helena Walsh who will teach Maths and P.E. in the school. We wish her success and fulfilment in our school. Best wishes to Ms Susan O’Brian and Mr Michael McCarthy on their appointments to other schools. We thank them for their loyalty and contributions to Patrician Presentation during the last school year.

Model of Medieval Fethard
Well done to Ms Looby and the Transition Years on their much-acclaimed model of medieval Fethard which was launched in Fethard’s Youth Centre on May 31 last. They are a credit to the school and showed high levels of enthusiasm and skill during the project.

School Lunches
This year all Junior Pupils and Senior Pupils who opt to stay on the school premises at lunchtime may avail of a standard school lunch (Cuisine de France Ham Roll and drink) which will be supplied by Kenny’s Centra. There will be no charge for this lunch but choice fillings will incur a small charge which will be collected weekly/monthly/yearly.

Articles for Emigrants’ Newsletter
We are now inviting submissions of articles and photographs for inclusion in this year’s Emigrants’ Newsletter. Articles or photographs can be submitted to Joe Kenny, Rocklow Road, Fethard, or by email to newsletter@fethard.com

New season starts for Fethard Rugby Club
As the new season is about to begin we at Fethard RFC look forward to seeing all present players back at training while also, any new players would be more than welcome. Fethard RFC players come from all surrounding parishes including Killenaule, Ballingarry, Gortnahoe, Mullinahone, Moyglass, Ballinure, Clerihan, Rosegreen, Drangan and Cloneen to name but a few.

Fethard RFC minis’ section caters for young players from the age of six to twelve years with training at 6.45pm every Friday and matches most Sunday mornings. With a primary focus on fun, safety, learning the skills and improving the all-important agility, balance and co-ordination of each child.

Fethard also has teams entered in the East Munster Under 14, 15, 16 and 18 leagues and cups. Our senior team plays in the Gleeson League as well as many other competitions. So if you are interested in playing rugby, Fethard RFC is the place to be. Contact Paul Kavanagh Tel: 086 8388205.

The club is in the process of securing new jersey sponsors and pitch side signage advertisers, if interested contact Kieran Butler on 087 6824340. Minis will start training on Friday, September 6. For all other teams, please contact Paul Kavanagh, director of rugby on 086 8388205. First senior match of the season takes place next Saturday, August 31, against Portumna RFC at 5pm. All are welcome.

Hi from Sydney Australia
My great grandparents James Maher and Margaret Harris were married in the Catholic Church in Fethard on May 15, 1828, and the witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Harris and Patrick Bulfin. I am wondering if there is anyone from the Maher, Harris or Bulfin families who thinks that they may be related to James and Margaret and would like to share family information with me. Their daughter Ellen Maher, my great grandmother, came to Australia in May 1850 on the ship ‘John Knox’ under the famine orphan scheme. Ellen brought her brother Thomas born February 7, 1832, and her sisters Bridget born June 3, 1836, Mary probably born 1840 and Margaret (unable to find birth/baptism for her) to Australia over a number of years. Mary came first then Thomas and Bridget in 1856 followed by Margaret much later. From the information given to me by Tipperary Family History Research James and Margaret’s other children were James born 1834 (possibly went to live in USA but cannot find positive evidence of this) Catherine born 1845 and Alice born 1848 who I presume stayed living with their parents when their other siblings came to Australia. I have not been able to ascertain when or where James and Margaret died or where they are buried.

Any information that you can provide would be most appreciated.
Joy Dean, 1B Dudley Street, Penshurst, 2222 NSW Australia.
E-mail: joyldean@bigpond.com

Remember you can purchase your lotto ticket online at fethard.com. Buy seven weekly tickets and get one free! Check on the website for lots of special offers. Next week’s draw takes place on Wednesday, August 28. The Jackpot is €4,450 and the Jackpot seller’s prize is €445. All proceeds go towards community work in Fethard.